How To Focus On Christ This Thanksgiving Season

How do we focus on Christ during the Thanksgiving season when so many things pull our attention away from Him? How can we celebrate in a way that honors God?

You would think with a name like, “Thanksgiving,” this time of year would be filled with gratitude and all things good. Unfortunately, (at least in America), the focus quickly gets shifted to consumerism, materialism, and the rat race of the holiday season. I’m going to have some articles to help you hold onto peace and focus on Jesus for the Christmas season, too, so make sure you sign up for our email list so you don’t miss them!

So how do we fight it as Christians? Here are a few ways to focus on Christ this Thanksgiving season and redeem the holiday from a focus on sales and shopping:

1. Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is a principal found throughout the Bible. The difference between a Biblical view of thankfulness and perhaps that of our culture is to who the gratitude is directed. Often, in a non-Christian context (which can seep into the church), is a focus on self-gratitude and self-recognition. Biblically, first and foremost, we thank God for every good thing in our lives. The Bible (James 1:17) says that “every perfect gift is from above.” Anything good in our lives is due to the kindness and generosity of God.

There is also a theme of showing gratitude to others. A Biblical worldview is one that is centered on community, not individualism. We need each other! Scripture says that each person plays a role in the body of Christ and brings their unique gifts and talents to form a healthy church family. Showing gratitude to others is a way to encourage and love other people, just as scripture instructs believers to do. Gratitude promotes a focus on Christ in the midst of a busy Thanksgiving season.

Here are a few ways to practically practice gratitude this season:

1. First, Start A Daily Gratitude Journal

During the SIE Rhythms Reset Week, we ended each night writing down three things we were thankful for that day. I learned that no matter how bad of a day it was, there was ALWAYS something to be thankful for! Stick a journal right on your nightstand and write down a few things you are thankful for this month. Or if you want to try for the morning, stick the journal by your coffeepot or where you make your tea each morning. Even your car may be a great place to keep your gratitude journal if you travel a lot or end up waiting in car lines to pick your kiddos up from activities or school. Get creative, but I promise this practice will make a difference in your heart and mind this season!

2. Next, Commit To Showing Gratitude To Others

Want to know an easy way to shift the culture of your home or workplace? Start consistently thanking others for the big and small things they do each day. Be on the lookout for them! Look for every opportunity to thank your co-workers, friends, spouse, children, etc. when they say or do anything that is commendable. Watch their faces as you show gratitude to them. See how it changes the temperature in the room. A simple thank you from can shift someone’s day from a bad day to a good day. Be intentional this month with showing gratitude to others!

3. Create A Visual Reminder

This year, we are going to do a “Thankful Tree” with our kids. I haven’t decided if we’ll find a small ornamental tree or if we’ll do a paper version to hang on the wall. (I found this blog that had a free printable to help you get started!) Either way, each day take time to write down one thing you’re thankful for on a paper leaf, then place it on the tree. This is a GREAT visual reminder for you and your family of all the things God has done in your lives this month! I CANNOT WAIT to do this with my kiddos this month.

If you don’t have kiddos in your home, you can still create a visual reminder of gratitude. Put a piece of paper on your fridge, on your bathroom mirror, or somewhere else, and keep track of the things you can be thankful for each day this month. It’s SO important to REMEMBER and TAKE NOTE of what God has done in our lives. He is always working, and when we make note of it, it gives us encouragement each day as we try to be faithful to Jesus.

2. Find A Way To Serve Others This Month

There’s nothing that fights discontentment more than serving other people. Jonny and I are brainstorming ways we can include our kids in serving our community this holiday season and we want serving others to be a part of our family culture as our kids get older. This can be as simple or as intensive as you want it to be! I’m going to share some ideas with you, then share some family-friendly options for those of us who have young kiddos:

Serving Ideas For Adults:

For the people you know:

• Single mothers: Do you know of a single mother in your life? Gift her some gift cards for meals, offer to watch her kiddos, pay for a cleaning or yard service, or invite her into your home for holiday events. Any way you can think to love and support the single moms in your life, do it!
• Widows and the elderly: Do you have some grandparents, elderly neighbors, or people you know who could benefit from some of your resources, strength, or youth? Offer to do some yard work or simple house maintenance, invite them to your home for a meal, include them in holiday family gatherings, or commit to bringing a meal each week this holiday season to them as a gift from your family. Sometimes quality time is the best gift we can give our elderly friends. Other times the thing they need the most is a ride to a doctor’s appointment or help to pick up their medications!
• Reach out to your local public school: See if there are any families that could benefit from some help this holiday season. A teacher in our small group connected us with two families last year who needed gas cards, gift cards for dinners, and some Christmas gifts for their children. If you know any teachers, I bet they can think of a kiddo in their class who has a need! You can also reach out directly to the school and ask how to support their students.
• Partner with local organizations: Here is a list of some common local partners and organizations in most cities that you can check with to become a serving partner with them:

Local Serving Ideas:

1. Your local Rescue Mission
2. Pregnancy Support Centers
3. Women’s Shelters
4. Your local Food Pantry
5. Your local Salvation Army
6. World Relief
7. Your local Young Life chapter
8. A local prison ministry
9. Your local Children’s Home

There are also several unique mission and community partners in each unique city, so check with your church or start googling to see all of the opportunities in your area!

Serving Ideas For Kids:

1. Make cards for your local hospital or nursing home for the patients and residents there: I can’t tell you how people will light up when they receive a sweet homemade card from a kiddo!

2. Deliver treats to your neighbors: Involve your kids in the making and delivery process. Show them what it looks like to take your free time and energy to bring joy to others.

3. Participate in Operation Christmas Child this year: We have done this since we were first married and love the opportunity for our kiddos to be involved!

4. Make hygiene bags for your local homeless shelter: You can have some great discussions while you make these simple bags!

5. Serve in your local church: Even for little kiddos, there are opportunities to serve in your local church! Maybe they help you greet people as they enter the building. Maybe they staff after to help pick up or clean up. I’m sure if you ask your church staff what opportunities there are for your kiddos to help or serve in the church, they will give them something to do that is age-appropriate!

3. Lastly, Practice Hospitality This Thanksgiving Season

Want to be counter-cultural and do what Jesus did? Invite non-family members into your home to join you this Thanksgiving. That sounds pretty easy, right? But I bet if you’re being honest with yourself, it puts you out of your comfort zone and adds a little extra stress to what can be an already stressful holiday event.

Fight it. Fight the need for control and fight the need to create a “perfect” Thanksgiving experience. Invite people into your Thanksgiving experience. It may be a neighbor, co-worker, or even a relative that you butt heads with. I promise you that saying “yes” to Jesus’ example of radical hospitality will be worth it. I can almost guarantee your Thanksgiving will be better because of it. What better way to focus on Christ this Thanksgiving season than to do the things He did?

For a great resource on hospitality, check out Rosario Butterfield’s book, “The Gospel Comes With A House Key.”

Are You Ready To Challenge Yourself and Focus on Christ This Thanksgiving?

Alright friends, here’s where the rubber meets the road. A life formed into the likeness of Christ comes with obedience and action. I’ve got some questions for you to mull over and discuss with your friends/spouse/family/small group to help you focus on Christ this Thanksgiving season. I pray that the Lord will work and move through your obedience to Him as you fight against the focus on self and materialism this season and work to keep Christ the focus of Thanksgiving this year.

1. How will I practice gratitude this month? Write down your action steps to make this happen.

2. How will we practice gratitude together as a family this month? Write down any necessary action steps.

3. How will I show gratitude to others this month? In my home, workplace, and otherwise? How can you be held accountable for this?

4. What visual reminder will I use for gratitude this month?

5. What is one way I can serve others in my community this month? What is one way we will serve others as a family this month?

I hope this article gives you a few ideas for how to keep your focus on Christ this Thanksgiving season. Praying it brings life and joy to you and your families this year!

Do you have some ways you or your family keep your home Christ-centered during the Thanksgiving season? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!

Thankful for you!